2014-07-30 Long Pond, Echo Lake and Beech Cliff ladder trail

We started out early with a drive down the 102 to the little lakes on the west side of the island; first to Long Pond which is sheltered between Mansell and Beech Mountains in a beautiful, quiet setting; the national park rents canoes to enjoy this protected and serene lake, Someday I hope to hike the Perpendicular Trail up Mansell, but today the plan was to hike the Beech Cliff ladders.  So after a brief stop at Long Pond, we went to enjoy the warm waters of Echo Lake. This is a popular lake for swimming; you can also snorkel to see a sheer drop off into a deep abyss. After relaxing for a while, Gary drove home while I headed up the Beech Cliffs ladder trail.

Unfortunately, the trail was a little wet, and after climbing up all the steps and enjoying the views, just before the first ladder, I slipped and banged my shin. I stood at the bottom of that first ladder and debated whether I should continue. My shin just below the knee swelled up with a bump the size of a tennis ball, and since we don't have $15,000 sitting around to pay for a helicopter rescue...I opted to head back down. Called Gary and told him to come back towards the lake, bring an ice pack....guess you could say that mountain kicked my a$$ and sent me crying home waahhh.

Later in the season, we did hike this trail and it turns out, I was a very short distance from the top - just a short stroll and two more ladders! Had I known, I may have continued. But this day, the mountain (or little hill, as the case may be) won.

At the south end of Long Pond

The beach and swimming area at Echo Lake

Beech Cliffs where the short but sweet ladder trail makes its way up

And up it goes

Quickly reaching a ledge with a view over Echo Lake

Granite steps climbing the steep hillside

Still more steps

This is where I slipped after stepping through a wet area

The first little ladder

Waahhhh, waiting for the shuttle to meet Gary up the road

My ride to meet up with Gary and an ice pack